After all those years in a newsroom, I now work in a library, a beautiful, roomy building with lots and lots of books. Since I often place the books on shelves after patrons have checked them out, I find myself intrigued with some and usually end up checking out those books myself.
One of those was a 1994 "untold" story of one of my favorite singing groups, the Carpenters. I read nearly the entire book before remembering that upon Karen Carpenter's death in 1983 from anorexia, singer and "comedienne" Bette Midler used this tragedy to make jokes and fun of the group and of Karen. Midler, probably through pressure from the public and even from writers of the day, apologized and even came to regret being so classless.
I don't think such a thing would happen today. There is an incredible meanness out there --- especially among members of the print and broadcast media --- that is unprecedented in American history. Small wonder that viewership and readership is falling like a rock as Americans back away from the stench of such journalistic effort. But it's not just the paid hacks; look in your daily newspaper and the unpaid pundits are ripping away too because they get to make "comments" on stories and programs. While the partisan divide rages, the rest of America is left to watch and shake its collective head. The discourse is often uncivil, making one wonder where the real adults are.
All of this is making it a real stressful time to be a newswatcher. My mom used to be watching one of the cable news channels when I'd come to visit. I'd find her agitated and shaking her head over the arguing and shouting, the inability for anyone to listen. I finally advised her to stop watching because I could see it wasn't good for her. It's not good for anyone to watch. Or to read. Most of us are too busy living and working. Life is too short for this sort of wasted energy.
Which brings me to wonder how people could consider running for public office at the risk of having their personal space so invaded by the same sort of hackers who would steal your credit card. Even a candidate's family is not safe from misguided, advocacy-related attacks based on your being of a certain political persuasion. This would seem to be a chilling indictment against the direction we as a country are headed. But thankfully, many people have courage of their convictions. Even judges can't strike that down.
I noticed a few years ago that I did not want to watch TV talk shows any more. I think "The View" did it for me (and this was before Rosie!)! I could not understand how anyone (audience or fellow host or guest) was supposed to understand what anyone else was saying, when everyone was talking over everyone else!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is also true on some radio talk shows, which I still listen to, but choose wisely which ones I will allow to intrude into my house! I've noticed on several of them that a host sometimes needs more information from the caller, but can not get the caller's attention, because he or she just keeps talking as if no one else is there! I'm not talking about some radio hosts who rudely interrupt their callers, I'm saying that it seems to have become the norm for "ordinary people" to just "keep talking!"
Where is Miss Manners when we need her?!